Orange County MTA member Susan Metzger speaks while Hall (right) and Woodbury Town Supv. John Burke, (left), listen

HARRIMAN – The House of Representatives has passed a measure that would provide $1.7 billion in grants for mass transit to help organizations like the MTA lower fares and expand service.

In the Hudson Valley, that would translate into additional funds for more parking at Metro-North train stations.

Congressman John Hall conducted a whistle stop tour of sorts in his district Tuesday, conducting media events at train stations in Dutchess, Orange and Westchester counties. He was promoting the measure which he said would pump $238 million of additional mass transit improvement funds into New York State.

Hall said it is particularly important to beef up mass transit as gas prices continue to escalate.

Susan Metzger, Orange County’s representative on the MTA Board, said the bill is a win-win-win for her county.

“It saves energy, it takes cars off the road so we can maintain our air quality, which you we have been trying to do, and it provides a cost-effective option for our commuters in a safe way,” she said.

The bill must go before the Senate and Hall is hopeful it will be approved in that house as well.

Metzger said the ridership on Metro-North has risen in recent years and since the gas price crisis, the number of people to ride the rails has increased even more.